History

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead

DCRCC was born out of the spirit of relational power building and grassroots activism. Its early genius was in tethering community care and organized advocacy, ensuring that the voices and needs of survivors of sexual assault were always primary. This legacy of integrated, survivor centric responses remains rooted in DCRCC’s mission today.

DCRCC was founded in 1972 as one of the first rape crisis centers in the country. No legislation existed that protected the needs of survivors or defended bodily autonomy as a basic right. DCRCC pioneered the way—using street theater, lobbying for legislation and government funding, peer-to-peer support, community partnerships, and a home run hotline manned by volunteer community members,.

Since its inception DCRCC has proclaimed that all forms of oppression are linked, and that sexual violence is not and will never be a siloed cause or issue. In the words of Audre Lorde, “There is no such thing as a single issue struggle because we do not lead single issue lives”.

DCRCC is committed to the health and wellness of people with layered identities and complex needs. We work to inform, equip and engage stakeholders in eradicating sexual violence. In our 43rd year, we are working to power a culture of consent and leading the world in insistently imagining a world without rape.